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1500 questions
15
votes
3 answers
What's the meaning of "has by"?
She tries not to react but knows she has by the smirk on Frank’s face,
the threat in the not-so-veiled statement plain.
It seems to me as an unusual structure. Could you please explain it to me?
Hadley & Grace by Suzanne Redfearn
Peace
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15
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6 answers
What does the expression "go to the vet's" mean?
I possess the Cobuild Advanced Learner's Dictionary and I came across this weird expression for a non-native speaker which is "To take the dog to the vet's". I do infer they are talking about the veterinarian's office and that the letter s is…
Quique
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15
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1 answer
"Cthulhu Fhtagn" - is there a rule how to pronounce artificially created words?
There are many such words in a fiction literature, including Jabberwocky, Cthulhu, Kilrathi, and many others. Of course, the authors intended to make these words appear most uncommon to an English reader, and it must have been a deliberate attempt…
Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
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15
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1 answer
Can "all" be used with both singular & plural verbs?
Are both sentences below correct?
1. All of the books are expensive.
2. All of the books is expensive.
user80323
15
votes
2 answers
Why does "elite" rhyme with "beet" rather than "bite"?
Why is "elite" pronounced /ɪˈliːt/ (rhyming with beet) and not /ɪˈlaɪt/ (rhyming with bite)? Most words that end in ite are pronounced with /aɪ/ — lite, trite, site, etc. — but elite is quite different. Why?
user119042
15
votes
6 answers
What's the word for asking someone to deliver their promise?
Let's say someone promised me something and this person forgot. Is there a single word that means asking this person to deliver this promise? I know that you can "collect" debt, but you cannot "collect" promises, right?
irene
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15
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What is the difference between "gerund" and "infinitive"?
What is the difference between "gerund" and "infinitive"?
I do not understand the differences.Can you explain them?
golnaz
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15
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Why is it not correct to use 2 conjunctions in a sentence?
As the title asks, why can't we use 2 conjunctions in a sentence? For example:
Because it is raining today, so I go out with umbrella.
It sounds correct in Chinese, but my teacher said that it's incorrect in English, without giving any reason.…
haudoing
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15
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4 answers
"Keep my mouth shut"....is it rude to say?
Today I had a lot of fun with a group of mums and kids in a muddy obstacle race. I fell into the muddy pool while my mouth was opened and drank some muddy water by accident. Then I said to the other mum I better "keep my mouth shut" as I didn't want…
Maria Lam
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5 answers
A sentence with listing items: How to remove the ambiguity?
There is a store which trades oranges and 3 kinds of apples. And there is a person there to whom I'm giving directions. Which sentence will be the best in such a case?
Put green apples in the first box. Put red and yellow apples and oranges in the…
user90726
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What do we call a person who seems to always correctly predict unfortunate things?
You know, the friend that everyone in the room will shut his mouth before he finishes his sentence knowing that it will very likely to become true.
Tom: I don't think this nice weather will last very long.
Everyone: Shut up, it will rain now if you…
Glu3
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15
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3 answers
Can fat change into muscle, or not? What does "Fat cannot change into muscle any more than muscle can change into fat." mean?
I have a problem with the interpretation of this sentence.
Fat cannot change into muscle any more than muscle can change into
fat.
I guess that it would mean either 1 or 2 below.
The change from muscle to fat is more likely to happen than the…
Takashi
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Meaning of "it is as necessary... as vigorous... as it is..." in this long sentence
I read this sentence in an article in the NY Times:
It is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots.
I understand…
totoga
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8 answers
Is the expression "very worth" proper English, and if not, what are some alternatives?
Is the expression "very worth" proper English, and if not, what are some alternatives?
Example:
This presentation is very worth watching in its entirety.
Franck Dernoncourt
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Why is there no article after "no" in "I have no car"
Examples. "I have no car", "I have no TV". BUT "I have not a car"
There was a thread on it, but the answers were pretty superficial to say the least and only based on someone's opinion. I read a whole book (by Seonaid Beckwith) about articles and…
Ceejay
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